Prepayment-meter mechanism.



W. L. BROWN.

PREPAYMENT METER MECHANISM,

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 191i.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

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W. L. BROWN.

PREPAYMENT METER MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED 00125, 1911v Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

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W. L. BROWN. PREPAYMENT METER MECHANISM.

APPLIQATION FILED 001?. 25, 1911. 1,125,001. 1 1 Patented Ja11.12,1915.

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VJILLIAM I1. BROWN, 0F LANSIDOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 HELME &

MQILHENNY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A FIRM. I

PBEPAYMENT-IVIETER MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Application filed October 25, 1911. Serial No. t'if747.

To all whom it may concern 2 Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. BROWN, of Lansdowne, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Prepayment-Meter Mechanism, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings.

My improvement relates to coin controlled vending machines, and is particularly applicable to a gas meter to permit a valve to be manually opened upon the insertion of a coin; said valve being automatically closed by the operation of the gas meter after delivery of a quantity of gas predetermined by the number of coins inserted.

Ashereinafter. described, my invention includes the combination with a valve controlling the passage of gas through the meter and having an operating lever with a radial slot; of a valve closing shaft, having a planetary gearframe tight thereon, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft, in axial alinement with said valve closing shaft operatively connected with coin controlled op-- erating means and having a sun geartight thereon; another sun gear, loose on said valve closing shaft and carrying a screw worm; a counter shaft journalel in said frame, having two planetary gears tight thereon and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; and, a crank arranged to open and close said valve by engagement in the slot of said lever, having a gear engaging said worm; whereby opposite rotary movements of said first two shafts turn said worm in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve. My invention also includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter specified. r

In the drawings :Figure I is a fragmentary plan sectional View of a gas meter of ordinary construction embodying my invention, only the top plate of said meter being removed. Fig. II is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line II, II, in Figs. I and III; showing the planetary gearing in position to hold said gas valve closed. Fig. III is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line III, III, in Figs. I and II. Fig. IV is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig.

II but showing the planetary gearing in position to hold said gas valve open.

; In said figures; the gas meter 1 hasthe inlet 2 by which the gas enters the valve chamber I, from which it may pass through the meter only by way of the port 5 under control of the valve 6 carried by'the arm 7 on the rock shaft 8. Said shaft projects through the stuiiing box 9 into the chamberv 10, from which the gas is excluded, and has in the chamber 10 the lever 11 by which. it may be operated. The meter mechanism beneath the floor 14 of said chamber 10 is of ordinary construction, including diaphragms operatively connected with the rock shafts 1 5 respectively carrying the lever arms 16 pivotally connected by the links 17 with the adjustable wrist pin 18 on the crank 20. Said crank 20 is carried on the rotary shaft 21 provided with the worm 22 engaging the worm gear 23 on the dial arbor 24, and the latter is operatively con-V, nected with suitable mechanism in the dial box 26 to indicate upon the exterior of the meter the quantity of gas which has been v-ended. Said dial arbor 24: carries the worm 28 engaging the worm gear 29 on the valve closing shaft 30 which is journaled in the bearing'brackets 3-1 and 35 and carries at its opposite end the rotary planetary gear frame 36 which is tight'thereon. Said valve closing shaft 30 is in axial alinement with the'valve opening shaft 38 which is operatively connected with coin controlled operating means and has the sun gear 39 tight thereon. The other sun gear 40 is loose on said valve closing shaft30 and carries the screw worm 42, by the sleeve 4-3. The two counter shafts 45 which are journaled in said frame 36 each have 'two planetary gears 47 2111(1428 tight thereon and respectively engaged with said two sun gears 39 and 40. As shown in Fig. IV said valve opening shaft 38 has the gear 50 for operative connection with the coin controlled mechanism in the casing 51, and, 7

said sun gear 39 on said shaft 38 being held stationary during the valve closing movement eii'ectedby rotation of said shaft 30 by the meter mechanism, which turns the gear frame 36,.in the, direction of the arrow marked thereon in Fig. IV; said tem-. porarily stationary sun-gear 39 is traversed, as a rack, by said planetary gears 47 which thus turnsaid planetary gears 48 in the di-f rection of the arrows marked thereon in Fig. II. Said worm 42 being thus turned in the direction of the arrow mark-ed thereon in Fig. II, in engagement with the gear 53 on the crank shaft 54 carrying the wrist plate 55 having the crank pin 56 engaged in the slot 57 of said valve lever 11, said valve 6 is thus closed from the position shown in Fig. IV to the position shown in Fig. II.

Thevalve opening movement of the planetary gearing above described, is effected by the coin controlled operating means in said casing 51 including the rotary coin carrier 60 having the handle 61 with the lug 62 ar ranged to encounter the stops 63 and 64 on said casing. Said casing 51 has the coin in let slot 66 in which may be dropped a suitable coin, a quarter of a dollar, when the gate bar 67 which normally closes said slot is withdrawn through the notch 68 in the flange 69 on said handle 61. When a proper coin is inserted in said slot 66 to operatively connect said valve opening shaft 38 with said handle 61, movement of said handle in the direction of the arrow marked thereon, approximately one half revolution, rotates said shaft38 in the direction of the arrows marked thereon, so that the sun gear 39 on said shaft, turning the planetary gears 47 and 48 in the direction of the arrows marked thereon in Fig. IV, while said gear frame 36 is held relatively stationary, said sun gear 40 and the worm 42 are thus turned in the direction of the arrow marked thereon in Fig. IV, to open said valve 6. Thereupon, additional coins maybe successively inserted insaid slot 66 and said wrist plate 55 be thereby successively turned in the direction of the arrow marked thereon in Fig. IV un til the valve 6 is opened from the position shown in Fig. II to the position shown in Fig. IV.

Each prepayment for gas, for which the 'consumer should be credited, and dispensation of gas, for which the consumer should be debited, being manifested by respectively opposite turning movements of said shaft 54; I provide the latter with the index 70 tight thereon, which in the initial position of the mechanism coincides with the stationary radial mark 71 in the indicator casing 72, so that the amount of money or gas to the credit of the consumer at any instant may be ascertained by reference to the extent of angular displacement of said index 7 0 with respect to said mark 71, which is on the dial 7 3.

It may be observed that although the valve opening shaft 38 and sun gear 39 are normally stationary during the rotation of the valve closing shaft 30 and its gear frame 36; the construction of the planetary-gearing above described is such as to permit of the simultaneous rotation of said shafts 30 and 38 which are respectively arranged to shift the valve in opposite directions. Of course, if said valve 6 has been shifted, by the valve closing mechanism above described, to the closed position shown in Fig. II, without stopping the flow of gas, (be cause of some obstruction between the valve and its seat, or for some other cause,) gas leaking past said valve tends to rotate the coin controlled valve opening mechanism in the same direction as it would be turned by a coin. Therefore, it is to be particularly noted that the worm 42 is then jammed toward the outside of the meter, thus counteracting said tendency and preventing such abnormal opening movement of the valve.

It is to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the specific type of coin controlled "operating means above described or to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating le ver with a radial slot; of a valve closing shaft, having a planetary gear frame tight thereon, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft, in axial alinement with said valve closing shaft, having a sun gear tight thereon; another sun gear, loose on said valve closing shaft and carrying a screw worm two counter shafts journaled in said frame, each having two planetary gears tight thereon and respectively engaged with said two 'sun gears; a crank arranged to open and close said valve by engagement in the slot of said lever, having a shaft with a gear engaging said worm; and, an index carried by said crank shaft; whereby opposite rotary move ments of said first two shafts turn said worm in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve, and, said index indicates the status of the valve controlling mechanism.

2. In a prepayment gas meter, the combi nation with a valve having an operating lever with a radial slot; of a valve closing shaft, having a planetary gear frame tight thereon, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft, in axial alinement with said valve closing shaft, having a sun gear tight thereon; another sun gear, loose on said valve closing shaft and carrying a screw worm; a counter shaft journaled in said frame, having two planetary gears tight thereon and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; and, a crank arranged to open and close said valve by engagement in the slot of said lever, having a gear engaging said worm; whereby opposite rotary movements of said first two shafts turn said worm in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve.

3. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever; of a valve closing shaft, having a planetary gear frame tight thereon, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft, in axial alinement with said valve closing shaft, having a sun gear tight thereon; another sun gear, loose on said valve closing shaft and carrying a screw worm; a counter shaft journaled in said frame,having two planetary gears tight thereon and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; and, a crank arranged to open and close said valve by engagement with said lever, having a gear engaging said worm; whereby opposite rotary movements of said first two shafts turn said worm in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve.

4. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever; of a valve closing shaft, having a planetary gear frame tight thereon, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft, having a sun gear tight thereon; another sun gear, loose on said valve closing shaft and carrying a screw worm; a counter shaft journaled in said frame, having two planetary gears tight thereon and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; and, a crank arranged to open and close said valve by engagement with said lever, having a gear engaging said worm; whereby opposite rotary movements of said first two shafts turn said worm in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve.

5. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever; of a valve closing shaft, having a planetary gear frame tight thereon, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft having a sun gear tight thereon; another sun gear, on said valve closing shaft and carrying a screw worm; a counter shaft journaled in said frame, having two planetary gears tight thereon and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; and, a crank arranged to open and close said valve by engagement with said lever, having a gear engaging said worm; whereby opposite rotary movements of said first two shafts turn said worm in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve.

6. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever; of a valve closing shaft, having a planetary gear frame tight thereon, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a valve opening shaft having a sun gear tight thereon; another sun gear, on said valve closing shaft and carrying a screw worm; a counter shaft journaled in said frame, having two planetary gears tight thereon and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; and, a rotary element arranged to open and close said valve by engagement with said lever, having a gear engaging said worm; whereby opposite rotary movements of said first two shafts turn said worm in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve.

7 In a prepayment gas meter, the com bination with a valve having an operating lever; of a valve closing shaft, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a planetary gear frame tight on said valve closing shaft; a valve opening shaft having a sun gear tight thereon; another sun gear on said valve closing shaft and carrying a screw worm; a counter shaft journaled in said frame, having two planetary gears tight thereon and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; and, a crank arranged.

to open and close said valve by engagement with said lever, having a gear engaging said worm; whereby opposite rotary movements of said first two shafts turn said worm in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve.

8. In a prepayment gas meter, the combination with a valve having an operating lever; of a valve closing shaft, operatively connected with the meter mechanism; a planetary gear frame on said valve closing shaft; a valve opening shaft having a sun gear thereon; another sun gear, on said valve closing shaft and carrying a screw worm; a counter shaft journaled in said frame, having two planetary gears thereon and respectively engaged with said two sun gears; and, a crank arranged to open and close said valve by engagement with said lever, having a gear engaging said worm; whereby opposite rotary movements of said first two shafts turn said worm in respectively opposite directions to open and close said valve. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, 'Pennsyl- Vania, this 23d day of October, 1911. 1

WILLIAM L. BROWN.

Witnesses:

ALLEN M. ToRREY, HARRY A. MARSHALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratents, Washington, D. 0." 

